Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Pasadena
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,018 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1109k less ($171,600 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $908/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,067)
11% less violent crime than Berkeley
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $40,018/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$40,018
$104,716 vs $64,698/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
11% lower
566.1 vs 638.8 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$1109k less
$171,600 vs $1,280,300
Pasadena
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 8 and Pasadena wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Berkeley to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $171,600 median home), income ($104,716 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.